Locally-grown raspberries, blackberries and strawberries will soon be on sale across the UAE.
Elite Agro, a UAE food producer, is bringing commercial quantities of the fruits to the market for the first time.
The move aims to reduce farm-to-shelf delivery times and comes as the UAE bolsters its food security by producing more and more food, from oysters to lettuce, in the country.
Elite Agro
“As part of our commitment to deliver the freshest farm produce to our customers, we’re expanding our range of high-quality crops to include three new types of berries,” said Ian Summerfield, chief executive of Elite Agro.
“We’re proud to be the UAE’s only producer of locally-grown blueberries and we’re confident that this expansion will open even more opportunities to achieve greater success in sustainable farming, in line with the UAE’s food security strategy,” he said.
The berry saplings were first planted in November 2021 at the company's farm in Al Foah in Al Ain. They are grown in temperature-controlled greenhouses using drip irrigation in coco peat, perlite and other substances. Each plant is naturally pollinated by a family of “loveable and very helpful” bumblebees, the company said.
Its raspberry production area is now 1.8 hectares with about 18,500 stems per hectare, and is expected to yield 18 tonnes of raspberries per hectare.
The blackberry production area is 1.2 hectares with an average of 30,000 stems per hectare, and is expected to yield 20 tonnes per hectare.
The all-new berry range will be available in retail stores such as Spinneys and Carrefour in the coming weeks under the “elite berry” brand, or they can be ordered online.
Over the past few years, increasing amounts of food are being grown in the UAE using advanced methods such as indoor vertical farms to grow leafy greens in Abu Dhabi to organic farmed salmon in huge tanks in Jebel Ali.
Earlier this week, Mariam Al Mheiri, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, said the transformation to sustainable food systems was an “urgent task and we don’t have a lot of time".
“The UAE seeks to become a leading exporter of sustainable agricultural solutions for hot and arid climates.
Ms Al Mheiri was speaking after a UAE and US-led global coalition to enhance food security and limit the impact of climate change announced a plan to double its investment target from $4 billion to $8bn by the time Cop27 begins in Egypt this November.
The Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM for Climate) had its first ministerial-level meeting in Dubai on Monday.
The projects aims to work with small farm holders in low and middle income countries to promote emerging technologies and agro-ecological research.
The UAE's vertical farms producing lettuce — in pictures
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Sean Lee, director of Smart Acres, at the hydroponics farm at the Armed Forces Officers Club, Abu Dhabi, which produces lettuce and leafy greens for sale in UAE supermarkets. Victor Besa / The National -
Lettuce is grown in converted shipping containers. Victor Besa / The National -
The produce grown using hydroponics. Victor Besa / The National -
Sean Lee, director of the Smart Acres hydroponics farm. We want it to be commercially viable, he said.Victor Besa / The National -
The farm is spread across eight converted shipping containers. Victor Besa / The National -
The UAE’s newest vertical farm, Smart Acres, has started operation. All photos courtesy Smart Acres -
The company collaborated with n.thing, a Korean-based technology company, to design the farm modules. -
Smart Acres grows fresh produce for UAE residents and businesses. -
Smart Acres says its system not only consumes less resources but generates ultra-high quality crops. -
Smart Acres was founded to improve food security in the UAE and develop the country’s farming capabilities. -
Smart Acres is in talks with hypermarkets and government entities to expand their distribution of produce across the country.
